A 25-year-old man was apprehended by the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police after sending several bomb threats targeting domestic airlines in India. Alleged to have been motivated by a desire for attention, the young man purportedly issued these threats through various accounts on the platform X (formerly Twitter), claiming bombs were placed on flights. The alarming messages naturally caused extensive delays, cancellations, and raised security checks on various airlines such as Akasa Air and IndiGo during the course of last week.
The investigation’s findings reveal that the first threat was posted on October 16 against an Akasa Air flight that returned with bomb scare concerning the flight carried 180 passengers or more to Bengaluru from Delhi. He reportedly used a VPN and anonymous accounts, thus making it doubly difficult for authorities initially to trace his digital trail. Sporadic postings were continued where over 90 flights came under similar threats, leading police to file eight separate FIRs against the suspect for criminal intimidation and putting public safety at risk.
Investigation and Arrest
After an extensive inquiry, the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police managed to trace the young man and arrest him through the application of scientific techniques in cyber forensics. It was found that earlier attempts had failed to provide any leads as the dark web and VPNs had successfully masked the identity of the user. The police are now combing the devices that have been seized from him in an attempt to find out any further motives or methods behind the attacks.
“The police traced his footsteps and arrested him, although he had made every effort to conceal his identity.” Following the investigation, there is a renewed call for more stringent protocol legislation around cyber safety and bomb threats within the parameters of the country.
Potential Legal Reforms
The Indian government is believed to be amending The Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982, giving more authority to criminal investigations with regard to bomb threat operations. More probably, it involves letting authorities take immediate action, if so deemed necessary, even in cases where an aircraft is threatened while grounded without waiting for a direction from a mustered-known court. At the same time, they plan to add those convicted of making bomb threats to a no-fly list, ensuring they will face serious consequences for their actions.
These incidents brought forth discussions that enhanced airline and cybersecurity protocols. This naughtiness had prompted those concerned to contemplate a review of policies and protocols prescribed to airline security, and to lay down firm guidelines for implementing them for the protection of passengers as well as flight operators.
Implications
This case has brought into sharp focus the possible role of security weak-point from India’s active aviation industry as regards its structure and even its monitoring power across social media platforms. Although a VPN and anonymous account used to communicate threats could make life difficult for the cops, the cooperation of the platforms with the security agencies will be very much needed to control the outbreak of such situations.
While the investigation is still in progress, the Delhi Police are comforting the masses that they will pursue these threats down the line and ensure that safe travel experiences are possible. This incident raises the critical importance of cybersecurity in today’s aviation world, as well as the pressing need for stringent legal provisions to properly address emerging threats.
